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A Trek Within: Embracing Unexpected Truths
This book started as a collection of experiences that changed the way Rob Sullivan viewed spirituality, the world, and his place in it. It has evolved into a book about the important signs and mile-markers we all encounter, many of which only make sense in hindsight. It serves as both a reminder and a guidebook to open our eyes and minds to the experiences our intuition flags as important — even when we can’t make sense of them in the moment.
As the son of a specialist in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Rob isn’t exactly the poster child for alternative medicine. However, after some of the best neurologists in the world diagnosed him with narcolepsy but were powerless to treat it effectively, Rob set out on an almost two-year mission to find a cure for the sleep disorder. This is but one of many compelling personal experiences Rob—and others—share in A Trek Following Your Inner Compass to inspire people to be open to the many miracles that happen around us.
It would be a mistake to view this book as a story of healing or a testimony to the power of alternative medicine, because that is only a small part of the book. The rest is a journey that explores intuition and intuitives, signs and synchronicities, the wisdom in dreams, the soul-nurturing power of prayer, messages from mediums — even past lives and numerology.
As Rob puts it, “These are concepts and ideas I wasn’t raised to believe; they are something I have come to accept.”
Dive deep into the intricacies of intuition, spirituality, and the unexplainable with Rob Sullivan. If you've ever felt the tug of something beyond the seen, or yearned to understand the signs that life presents, "A Trek Within - Following Your Inner Compass" is your next must-read.
As the son of a specialist in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Rob isn’t exactly the poster child for alternative medicine. However, after some of the best neurologists in the world diagnosed him with narcolepsy but were powerless to treat it effectively, Rob set out on an almost two-year mission to find a cure for the sleep disorder. This is but one of many compelling personal experiences Rob—and others—share in A Trek Following Your Inner Compass to inspire people to be open to the many miracles that happen around us.
It would be a mistake to view this book as a story of healing or a testimony to the power of alternative medicine, because that is only a small part of the book. The rest is a journey that explores intuition and intuitives, signs and synchronicities, the wisdom in dreams, the soul-nurturing power of prayer, messages from mediums — even past lives and numerology.
As Rob puts it, “These are concepts and ideas I wasn’t raised to believe; they are something I have come to accept.”
Dive deep into the intricacies of intuition, spirituality, and the unexplainable with Rob Sullivan. If you've ever felt the tug of something beyond the seen, or yearned to understand the signs that life presents, "A Trek Within - Following Your Inner Compass" is your next must-read.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
6 people want to read
About the author
Rob Ryan Sullivan
1 book2 followersThe worst news ever turned out to be an “absolute blessing” for Rob Ryan Sullivan. On his 48th birthday – on Feb. 18, 2015 – Sullivan received news from his doctor that he had lymphoma in the form of massive tumors on his heart and in his neck.
Six months and several rounds of chemotherapy later, Sullivan was cured and he had the experience that led to the last chapter of his second book, “A Trek Within: Following Your Inner Compass.” He had been working on the book for almost a decade, and his journey with cancer tied the entire book together. The book, which is a collection of experiences that changed the way Sullivan views spirituality, the world and his place in it, was officially released in early December 2023.
“When you’re going through things, you have to roll with it,” said Sullivan, a professional speaker and coach who has worked more than 70 nationally- and internationally-known organizations including Motorola, Northwestern University, McDonald’s and the University of Michigan. “And I’ve learned there this nothing that says you can’t incorporate your passions into a scenario where you’re living to work rather than working to live.”
Sullivan also recently launched SulliVanZyl, an international coaching and consulting company that also features Barry van Zyl, an internationally recognized drummer, consultant and educator based in South Africa.
“We want people to open up to the magic that’s in the world,” Sullivan said. “There’s so much amazing stuff out there if you just pay attention. I’m convinced we miss opportunities at every turn, and most of the time it’s simply because we’re not aware.”
Sullivan grew up in Chicago and Winnetka before graduating from New Trier High School and earning a bachelor’s from Holy Cross and a master’s from Northwestern. The 57-year-old lived in a West Town townhouse for 10-plus years, where he has hosted more than 900 “couch surfing” visitors from 70 countries. “It’s been incredible for me to meet people from so many different cultures and see firsthand that there is more that unites us than separates us,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan gets his entrepreneurial spirit from his grandfather, who was a successful soy bean trader, and his great-grandfather, Billy Sullivan Sr., who won a World Series as a catcher with the 1906 White Sox and was the inventor of the inflatable chest protector. Sullivan said his great-grandfather eventually wound up selling the patent for the protector, which he received in 1908, to a company that would become a major sporting goods business. Even though the Sullivan never met his great grandfather, the loss of the rights still haunts him. “Knowing how much my great grandfather regretted selling the patent has impacted many of the business decisions I’ve made over the years, especially in terms of Intellectual Property,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan is excited about the early enthusiasm for his book as well as the launch of his budding international SulliVanZyl business.
“These are things I know I’ve been called to do,” he said.
Six months and several rounds of chemotherapy later, Sullivan was cured and he had the experience that led to the last chapter of his second book, “A Trek Within: Following Your Inner Compass.” He had been working on the book for almost a decade, and his journey with cancer tied the entire book together. The book, which is a collection of experiences that changed the way Sullivan views spirituality, the world and his place in it, was officially released in early December 2023.
“When you’re going through things, you have to roll with it,” said Sullivan, a professional speaker and coach who has worked more than 70 nationally- and internationally-known organizations including Motorola, Northwestern University, McDonald’s and the University of Michigan. “And I’ve learned there this nothing that says you can’t incorporate your passions into a scenario where you’re living to work rather than working to live.”
Sullivan also recently launched SulliVanZyl, an international coaching and consulting company that also features Barry van Zyl, an internationally recognized drummer, consultant and educator based in South Africa.
“We want people to open up to the magic that’s in the world,” Sullivan said. “There’s so much amazing stuff out there if you just pay attention. I’m convinced we miss opportunities at every turn, and most of the time it’s simply because we’re not aware.”
Sullivan grew up in Chicago and Winnetka before graduating from New Trier High School and earning a bachelor’s from Holy Cross and a master’s from Northwestern. The 57-year-old lived in a West Town townhouse for 10-plus years, where he has hosted more than 900 “couch surfing” visitors from 70 countries. “It’s been incredible for me to meet people from so many different cultures and see firsthand that there is more that unites us than separates us,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan gets his entrepreneurial spirit from his grandfather, who was a successful soy bean trader, and his great-grandfather, Billy Sullivan Sr., who won a World Series as a catcher with the 1906 White Sox and was the inventor of the inflatable chest protector. Sullivan said his great-grandfather eventually wound up selling the patent for the protector, which he received in 1908, to a company that would become a major sporting goods business. Even though the Sullivan never met his great grandfather, the loss of the rights still haunts him. “Knowing how much my great grandfather regretted selling the patent has impacted many of the business decisions I’ve made over the years, especially in terms of Intellectual Property,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan is excited about the early enthusiasm for his book as well as the launch of his budding international SulliVanZyl business.
“These are things I know I’ve been called to do,” he said.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 4, 2024
I was excited to pick this book for a few reasons:
1: Rob was my patient
2: I’m featured in the book
3: I was curious to see what this will be about!
I was always inspired by Rob’s positive attitude when I first met him on 15P for his first chemo treatment for lymphoma presenting as huge tumors near his heart. Following his frequent Facebook updates, I was intrigued by the amount of alternative healing he received and his view on life. This book recounts his life experiences, life lessons, and his philosophy of walking with the tumors rather than fighting them. This book has something for everyone and I believe we all can learn a little from this phenomenal book.
Each chapter has a quote, but a few resonated with me greatly:
“Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes -Lucius Annaeus Seneca
By nature, I am pretty pessimistic and I worry about bad things happening all the time. Frankly speaking, I think I have a right to be, but doesn’t mean I shouldn’t want to change. Reframing takes practice.
Rob states it is important to view the universe as a friendly place based off Albert Einstein’s lesson, “the most important question facing humanity is, ‘is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves.” Rob goes on to mention that accepting the law of attraction and the idea that our thoughts create our experience, negative thoughts are unhealthy and we know this, but how many of us think negatively on a daily basis?
Rob speaks about alternative healing, intuitives, psychics, signs and synchronicities, etc. So if that’s something you are open to learning or exploring, picking this book is the right way to go!
1: Rob was my patient
2: I’m featured in the book
3: I was curious to see what this will be about!
I was always inspired by Rob’s positive attitude when I first met him on 15P for his first chemo treatment for lymphoma presenting as huge tumors near his heart. Following his frequent Facebook updates, I was intrigued by the amount of alternative healing he received and his view on life. This book recounts his life experiences, life lessons, and his philosophy of walking with the tumors rather than fighting them. This book has something for everyone and I believe we all can learn a little from this phenomenal book.
Each chapter has a quote, but a few resonated with me greatly:
“Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be expecting evil before it comes -Lucius Annaeus Seneca
By nature, I am pretty pessimistic and I worry about bad things happening all the time. Frankly speaking, I think I have a right to be, but doesn’t mean I shouldn’t want to change. Reframing takes practice.
Rob states it is important to view the universe as a friendly place based off Albert Einstein’s lesson, “the most important question facing humanity is, ‘is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves.” Rob goes on to mention that accepting the law of attraction and the idea that our thoughts create our experience, negative thoughts are unhealthy and we know this, but how many of us think negatively on a daily basis?
Rob speaks about alternative healing, intuitives, psychics, signs and synchronicities, etc. So if that’s something you are open to learning or exploring, picking this book is the right way to go!
Displaying 1 of 1 review